Roasted beets are a staple in the Greek diet along with this delicious garlic potato sauce. In my house they are a comfort food! We often serve these together, trust me this is definitely a match made in heaven. By roasting the beets instead of boiling them in water, you get a more intense earthy taste. Wrap in parchment first, then in foil, if you wish and roast in the oven. This is something you can do ahead of time, or the night before a dinner. Remove from the refrigerator and serve warm or at room temperature. These are beets from my garden, and so easy to grow. To roast beets, I have a special page to visit with detailed instructions on, How to Roast Beets .
What is Skordalia garlic sauce?
The garlic sauce can be made ahead of time, lasts in the refrigerator for days. Use a starchy potato when using this recipe. Leftovers can be used as a spread with toast, sandwiches, or served with fish. When making the sauce I prefer to hand mash it with a mortar and pestle or by using a potato masher. Keep the greens from the beets, saute or boil them and add them to your beets.
Why Eat Beets? As you can see below beets deliver nutrients to your body, as well as a healthy heart!
- Many nutrients and little calories.
- Beets are particularly rich in folate, a vitamin that plays a key role in growth, development, and heart health
- They also contain a good amount of manganese, which is involved in bone formation, nutrient metabolism, brain function, and more.
- Beets have been well studied for their ability to decrease elevated blood pressure levels, which are a major risk factor for heart disease.
- Beets contain pigments called betalains, which possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties.
- More information can be found on Healthline.
Roasted Beets with Potato Garlic Sauce –”Patzaria”
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of beets washed
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Wash beets and cut off greens. Wash and cook the greens by boiling in water, or they can be sauteed with a little olive oil.
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Wrap beets in foil and place in a sheet pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
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Test with knife for soft center.
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Let cool slightly. Unwrap and peel beets. Cut into quarters or slice.
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Place in a bowl and add garlic, olive oil, vinegar.
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Add the salt and pepper to taste.
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Serve warm or cold.
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Can be made 1-2 days ahead of time.
Potato Garlic Sauce
This potato sauce recipe, is used in many dishes in the Greek Diet. It can be served alone as a Meze with fresh bread, or served with fresh beets, greens, and fish.
Ingredients
- 4 Idaho brown potatoes, washed and peeled
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar, or plain white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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Place peeled potatoes in small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook until cooked thoroughly. Test with a knife for a soft center.
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When cooled slightly, place potatoes and garlic in medium bowl and mash.
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Add vinegar, salt and pepper.
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Blend thoroughly.
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Can be served at room temperature or cold.
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Can be made ahead 1-2 days.
Enjoy this traditional Greek Dish!
Mary
© 2010 – 2023, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We LOVE roasted beets. Just bake in the oven until tender. Cool and peel. Leave a bit of stem on the beets and they won’t weep juice as much. They are very sweet this way. We make a sauce with thick yogurt, a few cloves of roasted garlic (bake a few heads while roasting the beets), a bit of fresh dill, a dash of vinegar and salt to taste. Serve this over warm beets and it’s heaven. I must try your Skordalia as well!
Hi Jem,
Thank-you for your information on beets. I like the yogurt as well! More people need to try them their delicious!!